Shloka 89

Devanagari script

सम्पतन्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य महात्मानं पितामहम्‌

Transliteration

sampatantam abhiprekṣya mahātmānaṃ pitāmaham

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing the great-souled Grandsire Bhīṣma as he came rushing down (into the fray), they fixed their gaze upon him—an image of venerable authority descending into the violence of war, where even the most revered must act according to their chosen duty.

Word by Word

• सम्पतन्तम्: falling down / rushing down
• सम्पतन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+पत् (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), Parasmaipada (कर्तरि प्रयोग)

• अभिप्रेक्ष्य: having looked at / having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+प्रेक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययीभाव-रूप), Absolutive (having seen), कर्तरि

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled one
• महात्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पितामहम्: the grandsire (Bhishma)
• पितामहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the ethical tension of dharma in war: even a revered elder like Bhīṣma, embodying authority and virtue, enters the battlefield due to his vowed duty and chosen allegiance—showing how personal vows and social roles can compel action amid moral complexity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the moment when Bhīṣma, addressed as the Grandsire, is seen moving swiftly into action; the onlookers (implied by the participial construction) watch him intently as he advances in the battle scene.